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“I figured if we loved each other we had to be more than friends, right? At least when we’re alone?”
“For the time being I’ll agree to that,” he said, kissing me again. “After Christmas, we’re going to be more than friends all the time.”
“Why after Christmas?” I asked with confusion. “We’ll still be working together after Christmas.”
His smile was sneaky when he hit me with it. “I have no problem telling the housing board that we’ve fallen in love and are in a relationship, but I don’t want Audrey and Ivy to think that the legend of the gazebo is real and we’re the Christmas couple for the year.”
“Wow,” I said, laughter filling my voice. “You really are the Grinch!”
“I am not!” he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why does that make me a Grinch?”
“Instead of leaning into the gazebo legend and letting the holiday spirit fill you enough to encourage love in this town, you have to be the thief of joy and crush their dreams. That’s what a Grinch does.”
“That’s not fair,” he hissed. “You were the one who said we had to keep it professional when we were in public.”
“I thought you didn’t want the board to know and risk our jobs! I didn’t know it was because you wanted to Grinch your way through Bells Pass!” My laughter told him I was kidding, but also, I wasn’t kidding.
“You’re saying we should let them think we are the Christmas couple for the year?”
“I mean, they already think that,” I assured him. “I got quite the grilling after the Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. Honestly, are they wrong?”
“Yes,” he answered immediately. “We haven’t kissed under the gazebo roof with the tree lit.”
“True, but we could do that after tonight.”
“What if some other couple kisses under the gazebo roof tonight and falls in love?”
“Then the legend of the gazebo is true,” I said in a spooky voice, tickling his belly.
He grabbed my hands and held them while trying not to laugh. “Maybe we should kiss under the gazebo roof tonight once the tree is lit to ensure we get the coveted spot?”
“Hmmm,” I said, tapping my chin. “We could, but as soon as Santa jingles his way into the park, we’ll have to jingle our way out.”
“No law that says we can’t come back later when everyone is gone,” he said, a brow up.
“What? Has the Grinch’s heart grown three sizes tonight?”
“No,” he answered, kissing my knuckles. “But he just realized he should take any and every opportunity, real or make believe, to ensure the beautiful woman before him doesn’t disappear once the holidays are over. If believing in a silly legend is what it takes, this Grinch can do that with the hope it makes other people happy too.”
I tipped my head back and forth a couple of times. “I like the way you think, Mr. Grinch. Let’s do it. We’ll go home, warm up, and return for our clandestine mission!”
He tried to bite back a smile, but failed. “You always know how to make me laugh when I feel like I’m more trouble than I’m worth, Hazel Cane.”
I put my finger to his lips as my brow lowered in frustration. “Never say that again. You. Are. Important. Did you hear me?” He nodded and I sighed. It was a little bit frustrated and a little bit resigned. “We’re all different, but we’re all the same, Irving. We all deserve respect and happiness, regardless of whether we take a little bit longer to do a task or get from one place to another. Anyone who told you otherwise can get on the high horse they rode in on and ride it right back out.”
“Tell me how you really feel, Hazel,” he said with a wink. “Would you remind me to text a few people when I get home and tell them to find their horse?”
His sarcasm was always spot on and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll help you find their numbers, but for now, the only numbers that count are in this room. You, me, and Star have a job to do.”
His salute was jaunty and then he tucked a piece of hair behind my winter cap, which was red and white knit that swirled to look like a candy cane with a red pom-pom at the top. It was festive and so very Hazel Cane, in Hazel Cane’s opinion.
“What time is it?” he asked, flicking his watch. “We only have ten minutes? I hope Holly gets back soon. If we don’t meet Mayor Tottle at the podium at a little before six, he might worry.”
“I have his number,” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket. “I can call him—”
The thought was interrupted when the door burst open and Holly appeared, red cheeked and puffing while wearing an elf’s costume. “I ran as fast as I could,” she said, slamming the door shut. “The EMT put them in this bag to keep them hot, but I didn’t want to risk it,” she explained, handing me the bag.
“You’re the best, Holly,” Irving said, giving her a high five. “You saved the tree lighting!”
